Ball State University's professors are now "expected," rather than "encouraged," to allow students to make up tests and assignments they miss when they are away representing the university. The University Senate made the change on Thursday to make things fair for ... well, mostly student athletes.
About 100 athletes every semester have a professor unwilling to work with their schedules, according to Pam Riegle, the coordinator for Academic Support Services for Student Athletes.
Because Division-I athletes often have to leave late in the week for weekend games or meets, they'll occasionally miss a test, project or presentation. It's not fair to force students to take a "zero" if they can't be there because of an athletic obligation.
At the same time, however, professors should not use this new resolution to excuse only student athletes.
They are not the only part of the student population that represents the university. Ball State uses its athletes and its athletic programs for fund-raising events and university promotion, but the journalism department uses the DAILY NEWS to promote itself; other departments have clubs they use for promotional purposes.
If members of any student organization want to attend a weekend conference and must miss class, professors should give them the same consideration they are now "expected" to give student athletes.
The University Senate needs to make sure that professors don't give a segment of the student population special treatment. While playing a sport at the collegiate level is demanding, so are many other extracurricular events.
Students who choose to be involved in extracurriculars already know it's tough to balance them with school. Athletics are not more important, or more demanding, than any other activity in which non-athletes choose to participate.
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